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[Old Codger]

My buddy has his heart set on using a posed figure as a patreon incentive. When I imported the .obj into Anim8or the wire frame and even the non-smoothed views had so many points and edges that they were essentially solid black on the screen. I tried importing the .obj directly into my slicer (Cura) but it highlighted multiple problems. I carefully cut away an element of the figure and exported it but Cura still didn't like it. Plus the model is so complex that my poor CPU and graphics card bog down hugely when I try to rotate the model to put the base down flat (it comes in rotated such that the bottom of the bae is facing front with the front of the figure facing down. (i.e. 90 degrees off in X and 180 degrees off in Y).

Is there a way to simplify an existing model? I know subdivision (rounding?) increases a model's complexity but it there a way to go the other direction? Aslo, Cura doesn't seem to like parts of the model created by intersecting one mesh with another. Is there away to get rid of any such "hidden" (i.e. non-visible or non-exterior) geometry?

I'm stumped. My buddy has his heart set on that model being printed. Can anybody here help? I can post screen caps of the areas Cura highlights as being problem areas.

[selden]

A description of how to use Blender to simplify (decimate) a mesh for 3D printing is at https://www.windowscentral.com/how-simplify-your-model-3d-printing

I don't do 3D printing, so I dunno how useful it might be.

[2020 Hindsight]

Meshmixer allows you to do this:

&ab_channel=Protoguide

[Old Codger]

@selden: I'll have to look at the video you referenced. I have Blender loaded I just have never been inclined to devote the time/effort to develop a facility in it. So far I'm doing okay making things in Anim8or. Might still have to branch out into Blender.

@2020 Hindsight: I'm looking at Meshmixer and the price is certainly right (FREE! ) but the description describes it this way
"Meshmixer is state-of-the-art software for working with triangle meshes."

I may be wrong but I don't believe Anim8or produces triangle meshes. But since it is free I can easily DL and install it and see what it does when I try to feed it something I made in Anim8or. Nothing ventured, eh?

[2020 Hindsight]

In Anim8or you can export your model to an .stl file. (I guess that is how you are printing anyway.)

.stl files describe the shape as a mesh of triangles. Just give Meshmixer your .stl file.

[Old Codger]

Thanks. Didn't know that. Actually, I fed it the .obj I want to print and it didn't puke. Unfortunately I haven't tried to do anything with it either.

[selden]

"Under the skin" Anim8or seems to use triangles for its meshes, despite what it shows in the GUI. I was pleased to discover this when I wrote my export script for Celestia's CMOD format.